Kavya Jain, a London-based product designer specialising in social and inclusive design, is revolutionising school accessibility with ‘Senseiforall’. Her innovation, ‘Sensei’, offers durable, low-cost tactile surfaces that can be easily affixed to walls, using unique patterns to guide visually impaired students through touch. This solution enhances independence while saving schools up to 40% compared to traditional modifications.
In an interview with Asian Voice, Kamya spoke about her journey, key features of the Sensei and much more.
Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to create Sensei?
It’s been nearly three years since I started ‘Sensei’, which began as my university project at Nottingham Trent, where I studied Product Design. During my final-year dissertation, I was designing products for early child development when I came across an article comparing the development of visually impaired children to those with sight. One detail stood out: while most children learn by mimicking, visually impaired children often skip crawling and start walking later, delaying key developmental milestones.
That insight sparked my project, but it became even more personal when my dad was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, causing blind spots in his vision. His experience continues to motivate me to create accessible spaces that empower visually impaired individuals to navigate the world independently.
What specific challenges did you identify in creating an accessible and inclusive interior environment for people with vision impairments and complex needs?
In the UK, over 2 million visually impaired people struggle with indoor navigation, including 23,000 children who lack access to quality education due to unsafe, non-inclusive environments. With only 11 or 12 specialist schools nationwide, most visually impaired students rely on mainstream schools that often lack adequate resources to support them.
Key issues I identified include the absence of a consistent, intuitive navigation system, as current tools like wooden rails and tactile pavements are either ineffective indoors, costly, or inconsistent. As a result, many students depend on teachers or assistants, adding to their burden. Additionally, tight school budgets make investing in innovative accessibility solutions difficult, further limiting equal educational opportunities for visually impaired students.
How does Sensei work to transform a space into one that is safe, inclusive, and accessible? Could you walk us through some of its key features?
At ‘Sensei’, our first product is an affordable, easy-to-install tactile wayfinding system that transforms walls into navigational tools for visually impaired and neurodivergent individuals. We’ve designed a range of tactile patterns, each representing key spaces like classrooms, washrooms, emergency exits, elevators, and corridors, allowing users to navigate through touch.
Our wall-mounted design is intuitive, avoids tripping hazards, and incorporates high-contrast colors for those with low vision or cognitive disabilities. With a quick, hassle-free installation that requires no costly renovations, our solution offers an accessible and cost-effective way for schools and public spaces to enhance inclusivity.
How do you ensure that Sensei meets the needs of people with complex needs, not just those with vision impairments?
At ‘Sensei’, our goal has always been to co-design with our end users—engaging visually impaired students, special needs educators, and accessibility experts to ensure our product is functional for those with vision impairment and complex needs.
We prioritise multi-sensory design, integrating touch and color contrast, with plans to incorporate audio cues for cognitive and sensory processing needs. Our products are customised for different environments, starting with schools and expanding to hospitals and workplaces. Currently, we’ve tested in three schools and are live in two, using continuous feedback to refine and adapt our solution for diverse disabilities and spaces.
How do you address concerns regarding affordability and accessibility of your product for different sectors or communities?
Affordability has been a priority for ‘Sensei’ from the start—we believe accessibility shouldn’t come at a high cost. Existing solutions like wooden rails are expensive to install, require renovations, and have high maintenance costs. In contrast, 'Sensei' is made from low-cost EVA foam, making it 40% more affordable for schools while requiring no structural changes.
Our modular, stick-on design seamlessly integrates into existing spaces. To further reduce costs, we’ve optimized manufacturing and materials while exploring partnerships with local authorities and organizations to support low-income schools and public spaces. Our goal is to keep improving affordability, ensuring accessibility is within reach for all.
How do you see the future of accessible interior design evolving, and where do you see Sensei fitting into that future?
Since starting this project, I’ve envisioned the future of accessibility through ‘universal design’—creating spaces that work for everyone without separate solutions. This means integrating multi-sensory elements like touch, sound, and AI-driven navigation into buildings.
Stronger legislation could also drive change, expanding the ‘Equality Act 2010’ to mandate accessibility across all sectors. At ‘Sensei’, we aim to set design standards for inclusive interiors and ensure our wayfinding system—and future low-tech solutions—make public spaces more accessible and welcoming. Ultimately, our goal is to become the go-to solution for truly inclusive environments.
If you’re an aspiring woman innovator, check out how Innovate UK could support you by searching ‘Innovate UK Women in Innovation’ or visiting: bit.ly/IUKWomenInnovate
